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With this being my 4th section it was booked at my 16 week consultant appointment so I knew all along that baby no.4 would be born on the 14th June, when I would be 37+6. At 36 weeks I had another appointment and this was confirmed. I had to visit the hospital the week before for a blood test so that they could ensure that they had the correct blood on stand by should I have any complications and I was given my pre med tablets to take at home.
The weekend before I was incredibly tearful and nervous but calmed down on the Sunday evening when it dawned on me that by the following evening I would be holding my baby! I took my first tablets at 10 pm on Sunday and then went to bed.
I woke early on Monday and had a light breakfast as the hospital had advised. I was not allowed anything to eat or drink after 7.00 am. DH took DD to school and DS1 to nursery then at 10.00 my mum arrived to look after DS2. I had my second tablets at 11.00 am and then we laft for the hospital.
On arrival I was told that I would be first as it was my 4th section and they took my blood pressure and monitired the baby. Unfortunantely, no.2 on the list started contracting so she went down first! I was taken down to the birth centre at 1.00. I changed into my gown and waited. I told the anaethatist that I wanted a general and he was not happy. I had a general with section no.1 and spinals with no.2 and no.3 but hated them so wanted to be asleep again. The anaethatist was not happy as I am asthmatic. At this point I got very upset as I had stated this all along and felt that all my control was being taken away. He agreed after listening to my chest that I could go to sleep and then they took me down to theatre at 2.00.
Matilda was born at 14.44, weighing 6lbs 6.5oz. They had difficulty getting her out as there was a lot of scar tissue from my previous sections and she then stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. That sent her into shock and her temperature dipped dramatically. She had to be wrapped up and placed in a gel cot so that when I came round it was 4 hours before I held her.
Matilda was able to come out of the gel bed the next day. She did not take to feeding at first and had bottles the first night as it was vital that she got fluids in her system. Breast feeding was a bit erratic for a few days and her weight droppped to 6lbs 1oz.
I recovered quickly. I had my tubes tied at the same time but that made no difference to recovery time. I could not get out of bed until the Tuesday evening as I had a drain inserted into my wound. This was removed and then I had a bath and felt better. It was no more painful having section no.4 than any of the others and I went home on Thursday afternoon, 3 days after the section.
We are both doing well now! Matilda is now 10 days old and weighs 6lb 2oz so is beginning to gain weight. My stitches are out and I am as mobile as pre pregnancy now... just bigger...back to the diet I guess!